Wheel for cycles or other vehicles.



No. 763,576. PATENTED JUNE 28,1904.

J. E. WAHLSTRCM.

WHEEL FOR CYCLES OR OTHER VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17 1904.

N0 MODEL.

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.To whom it may concern:

positely-locatedradial flanges a a. of the spokes of the wheel are shownat 7c. Instead of being connected directly with the UNITED STATES iatented Tune 28, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

" JOZHANZEMIL WAHLSTROM, or SUNDSVALL, SWEDEN.

WHEEL FoR CYCLESOR OTHER VEHICLFES- SPEGIFICA TIO'N forming partofLetters Patent No. 763,576, dated June 28, 1904.

I Application filed Februaryl'], 1904. Serial No. 194,020. (No model.)

Be it known thatI," J OHAN EMI'UWAHL- sTRoM, a citizen of Sweden,residing at Sunds vall, Norrland, Sweden, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Wheels for Cycles, Automobiles, or otherVehicles,

.of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawings. p I

The invention consists in a wheel of improved and novel constructioninwhich' elastic knee-levers, as I term them, are employed incombination with the hub and the outer portion of a wheel, the saidknee-levers 'connecting the said outer portion with the hub andoperating to secure an" elastic or cushioned action of the wheel inservice and" to enable the employment of a pneumatic or otherelastictire to be dispensed with.

I have shown embodiments ofthe invention in the accompanying drawings,inwhich Figure 1 represents in side elevation the hub and adjacent partsof awheel, including portions of the spokes, and shows the preferredembodiment of the invention; Fig. 2"is a viewmainly in section along theline 2 2 of Fig. 1. tion, showing another embodiment of the in- Fig. 3is adetail view in side elevavention. Fig. 4 is adetail view showing inplan another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 shows one of the links of the knee-levers detached. Fig. 6 is adetail View showing in section one form of pivotal connection and stay.Fig. 7 is a viewsimilarto Fig. 6,

flanges of the hub, as ordinarily the case in practice, the innerextremities of the said spokes are connected to one or more rings g' 9.

Two rings g g" are shown in Figs. I and 2 ary ranged parallel with eachotherand connec'ted together by means of transverse stay rods or tubes,although in practice I shallin some cases employ a single ring. The r1ngor rings g g are connected with the hubby means of Portions l a seriesof knee-levers Z. Five knee-levers are represented in Fig. 1. Eachknee-lever consists of two links-namely, Z and Z and a spring, as f. Thesaid linksare jointed together, the link Z being in addition jointed tothe hub n and the link Z being jointed to the ring or rings 9 g. Eachlink is forked at its opposite ends, as shown, for instance, by Fig. 5",and consists of two side pieces Z Z, which are connected by across-piece Z that is located in an intermediateposition in the lengthof the'link. The side pieces and crosspiece are in one piece, as shownin the drawings, and the whole link is made of sheet metal out and bentinto the desired shape. In order to secure the greatest amount ofstrength and rigidity, the side pieces Z Z are caused to stand at rightangles tothe cross-piece Z constituting flanges at the opposite sidesof'the link. The illustrated link is exceedingly strong and stiff, whileat the same time it is light in weight. i x Q The mode andgmeans ofelfecting the pivotal connection or the ends of theside pieces Z Z ofthe respective linkso f each lmee lever with the hubfnfwith eachother,and with the invention. At each joint of the knee ers the line ofpivotal'connection and supportis of considerable length.

" By reason of the length of 'each'lineofpivotal connection and support,measured inthe direction otthe length of the axis of the wheel, asteadiness'and a firmness are secured corresponding with that whichresults when the spokes are attached to the opposite flanges of the hubdirectly. In the drawings I have represented one arrangement in whichthe joint is formed by the employment of two pivotal screws in line witheach other, respectively engaging with the opposite side pieces of alink of a knee-lever, and another arrangement in which the joint isformed by the employment of a rod or tube of considerable length,providing pivotal supports at its opposite ends for the opposite sidepieces of a link. In Figs. 1, 2, and 6 the inner ends of the oppositeside pieces of the link Z of each knee-lever overlap with thecorresponding flanges 01/01. of the hub n. They are shown fittingagainst the inner surfaces of the said flanges; but it is not strictlymaterial whether they fit against the said surfaces or the outersurfaces of the flanges. The pivotal connection of the respective innerends with the corresponding flanges n n may be effected, as indicated inFig. 6,

. by passing the two screws t t through holes -posite ends of the saidrod or tube r that areformed in the said parts. The said screwsconstitute pivotal connections extending in the same line parallel withthe axis of the wheel and located at opposite sides of the wheel. Theouter ends of the side pieces Z Z of the inner link Z of each knee-leverare shown overlapping with the inner ends of the corresponding sidepieces of the outer link Z of the knee-lever. The said meeting andoverlapping ends may be connected pivotally together in pairs by passingthe two screws 6 Z through holes therein substantially in the manner inwhich the screws 6 27 pass through the flanges n n of hub 12 and theinner ends of the side pieces of the link Z in Fig. 6. The outer ends ofthe side pieces of the link Z of each knee-lever are shown overlappedwith the rings 9 g. They are also'shown fitting against the innersurfaces of the said rings, although in other constructions they may bearranged to fit against the outer surfaces of the rings. The pivotalconnection of the said outer ends with the said rings may be effected bypassing the screws 6 t through holes in the said outer ends and therings, substantially as described above with reference to Fig. 6 inconnection with the other joints.

For the purpose of holding the parts together at each point of pivotalconnection nuts may be applied to the threaded portions or stems of thescrews t t t in well-known manner. Usually, however, in place of suchnuts rods or tubes 1* 7" 7' are employed at the different joints. Theserods or tubes extend from side to side of the wheel. The rod or tube 1extends across the wheel from the flange n and side piece Z or Z at oneside of the wheel to the corresponding pair of parts at the other sideof the latter, and the stems of the screws 2. 2, enter the ends of thesaid rod or tube, as shown in Fig. 6, the said ends being screw-threadedinteriorly to engage with the threaded portions of the screws. The rodor tube 0" extends across from the pair of -meeting and overlapping endsof the side pieces at one side of the wheel to the corresponding pair atthe opposite side of the wheel, the stems of the screws t t entering theinternally-threaded opposite ends of the said rod or tube. The rod ortube r extends across from the ring 9 and corresponding end of one sidepiece of the outer link Z at one side of the wheel to the similar pairof parts at the other sidethereof, and the stems of the screws t 6 enterthe internally-threaded op- The ment with the inner surfaces of the linkZ employment of the rods or tubes 7 r r or equivalent devices at thejoints, as aforesaid, in connection with the screws is advantageous,inasmuch as it is desirable to stiffen or stay the knee-levers and ringsg g transversely. Not only do such rods or tubes enable the parts at theopposite sides of the wheel to be united, so as to prevent the same fromseparating more widely, but the rods, tubes, or the like are useful alsoin preventing the parts at one side of the wheel from moving inwardtoward the parts at the other side thereof. This latter result may besecured in different ways. In Fig. 6 in order that the rod or tube mayserve as a distance-piece by means of which the pair of parts at one endofthe same shall be held at a predetermined distance apart from thecorresponding pair of parts at the other end thereof'the opposite endsof the said rod or tube are arranged to bear against the inner surfacesof the side pieces Z Z of the link Z. In Fig. 7 the rod or tube r passesinto and through holes that are formed in the outer ends of the sidepieces of the outer link Z The inner surfaces of the rings g g areclamped against the ends of the rod or tube r by means of the screws 25t. The said rod or tube 1' serves as a distance-piece or stay for thesaid rings. The ends of the rod or tube 1' enter into holes that areformed through the outer ends of the side pieces of the outer link Z ofthe knee-lever and constitute pivots therefor inline with each other. Asleeve or shell 1*, fitting upon the exterior of the rod or tube rengages by its ends with the inner surfaces of the outer ends of theside pieces of the link Z and serves as a distance-piece and staytherefor. In lieu of the sleeve or shell r collars or shoulders might beprovided upon the rod or tube r for engagi- 11 will be apparent that thestays engaging, as described, with the side pieces of the links of I theknee-levers steady the said side pieces, so that these may be betterable to resist side pressure.

It is necessary to insure freedom of movement of the members or links ofthe respective knee-levers at the different points of pivotalconnection. I therefore make provision whereby when the screws 2. t t Zare tightened up the side pieces of the links of each knee-lever may beprevented from becoming so clamped or held at the joints as to interferewith the free and easy movement of the respective links. One means ofsecuring the desired result is shown in Fig. 6, in which side piece andflange together and against the said end, with resulting difficulty ofmovement. In a construction in which the rod or tube is omitted and nutsare employed the spacing-shoulder 6 will operate to limitthe distancetowhich the nut may be turned onto each screw, thereby preventing theparts which should move relative to each other from becoming clampedagainst the head of the screw by the tightening of the nut, so as toprevent movement of such parts. Should the inner ends ofthe side piecesZ Z be fitted against the outer surfaces of the flanges n n, as Icontemplate in some instances, the spacing-shoulders t t, Fig. 6, of thescrews it will be arranged to take against the sides of the flanges n n.Thismay be the case, also, when the rod or tube 1 is omitted and nutsare employed instead thereof. In Fig. 7 the difference between thelength of the spacing sleeve or tube 9* and that of the rod or tube 1'leaves space at the opposite ends of the said rod or tube r between theends of the sleeve or rod 0- and the heads of the screws Z Z sufiicientto obviate binding of the ends of the side pieces of the link Z therebyproviding for free play of the said link. i

In a construction in which the ends of the side pieces of the link Z areapplied at the outer sides of the rings 9 g a' shoulder t of each screwshould be caused to engage with the outer side of the correspondingring, so that regardless of the tightening of the screw the link willremain free to move readily on that portion of the screw which extendsbetween the ring and the head of the screw.

Stays may be employed in connection with the rings g 9 intermediate thepoints at which the links Z Z are connected with the said rings, asindicated at r, Fig. 1.

In order to prevent screws t 2/" from getting loose, particularly whenthey are not provided with shoulders and for that reason cannot be drawntight, a split pin or piece of wire, with the ends thereof bent over soas prevent it from falling out,may be put through a hole made through ascrew and the corresponding rod or tube.

The springs f (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) are each formed with a spiral ofa small number of turns, from which the ends of the spring extend inopposite directions. When applied to a knee-lever, the spiral of thespring encircles the rod or tube 0*, the opposite ends of the springbeing engaged with the opposite links Z Z of the knee-lever. Preferablyeach link is formed with an opening therethrough, as at Z Z, Fig. 2,into which fits the corresponding end of the spring. The springs areconstructed to cause the knee-levers to assume normally thepartially-bent position in which they are represented in Fig. 1. In thisposition of the knee-levers the springs are substantially free fromtension. They will oppose movement of the knee-levers in being eitherbent further or straightened and in either case will operate to returnthe kneelevers to. such position as soon as permitted to act so to do.Thereby the elasticity of the springs is fully utilized, and fewer orweaker springs than otherwise would be required will in some instancesbe found to be sufficient. In order to enable a spring f to be changed,it will be necessary simply to remove the screws t t, so as to permitthe links Z Z of the knee-lever to be separated from each other and thenwithdraw the ends of the spring from the holes in the links and the rodor tube 9* from the spiral of the spring, after which the rod or tubemay be inserted into the spiral of a new spring. The ends of such springmaybe inserted into the holes in the links, the rod or tube may be putinto position, and the screws 2," a" may be turned home.

Fig. 3 shows a spiral spring f having one end thereof connected with aring 9 and the other end thereof connected with the flanges n of the hubn. In Fig. 4: a bent blade-spring f is shown, the latter being kept inplace upon rod or tube r by a suitable device for the purpose.

When using my invention, the wheel-rim maybe unprovided with anyyielding or elastic tire, or such a tire may be employed,

if deemed desirablefor example, a solid- 5 rubber ring or a hollow ringfilled with cork. or any other light material, rubber, leather, &c. 1

When using a single ring 9, the outer half of the outer link Z of eachknee-lever need not be forked.

I claim as my invention* 1. In a wheel for vehicles, in combination, thehub, the exterior ring or rings to which the spokes are connected, theknee-levers, and the springs in connection with the said kneelevers,each of the knee-levers comprising the links formed of sheet metal andrespectively consisting of the cross-piece Z and the side pieces Z, Z,standing at right angles to the plane of the said cross-piece.

2. In a wheel for vehicles, in combination, the hub, the exterior ringor rings to which the spokes are connected, the knee-levers, the springsin connection with the knee-levers, and the staying and spacing membersintervening between the opposite side portions at the points of pivotalconnection and whereby the side pieces of the knee-levers are maintainedseparated from each other at fixed dis-V tances.

3. In a wheel substantially such as described,

in combination, a knee-lever having side portions, as Z Z, flanges a, n,a spacing rod or tube engaging at its .endswith the opposlte portions tohold them from approaching each other, and connecting means whereby theparts are held together transversely of the wheel.

4:. In a wheel substantially such as described,

tervening between the said side portions, the interior rod or tubehaving the said side portions hung upon the projecting ends thereof andalso serving to space the rings apart, and the screws connecting therings to the said interior rod or tube.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.J OHAN EMIL WAHLSTROM.

Witnesses:

AXEL PETERS, CHARLES ERICSSON.

